Core Record

The three female figures represent the Theological Virtues, so called because they relate to God unlike the Cardinal Virtues (Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance) which relate to the earthly realm. Faith holds the chalice and host of the sacrament. Charity provides protection and sustenance for her children. Hope gazing heavenwards holds an anchor resting on a column base which signifies strength and steadfastness. Both the pomegranates in the tree and the palm tree are attributes of the Virgin Mary.

Following his return from Bologna to Rome in 1617, Albani established a large studio to assist him in carrying out the many commissions he received for both altarpieces and small paintings such as this. His jewel-like colours and charming figure groups set against a distant idyllic landscape helped to establish his popularity.

The painting is to be bequeathed to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery on Sir Denis Mahon's death.

This painting was formerly believed to be the small painting on copper (38 x 52 cm) that was seized by the French from the Madonna di Galliera's sacristy in 1796 (Emiliani, 1967, pp. 43, 49) and was sent to the Church of St Roch, Paris in 1811. Recent research by F. Landolfi has revealed, however, that the confiscated painting was Pier Francesco Cittadini's copy of Albani's original, which Ghislieri had bequeathed to his friend, Giacomo Totorilli. Charity's depiction derives from cat. 139 (Pugilisi, 1999). Pugilisi does not consider this painting to be autograph. It could be after a lost original as suggested in Discovering the Denis Mahon Collection, National Gallery, London. It is further suggested that this work may be a pendant to Christ Served by Angels (Pugilisi, no. 138).